All are within three hours drive of the major population centers of southern New England, and only a little farther from the New York metropolitan area.Accordingly they are wildly popular with skiers and riders, and indeed provide a common experience and frame of reference for snow sports enthusiasts up and down the East Coast.

That is not to say this pool of dedicated skiers and riders ignore other New England resorts; they do not, and these areas are well represented elsewhere here at OnTheSnow.com.

Mount Snow is one of the three Peak Resorts areas in the region, and has benefited greatly from Tim Boyd’s passion for high-tech pole-mounted fan guns. So have skiers and riders who find top quality snow top to bottom early in the season.

Peak Resorts also decided to turn the Carinthia Face into one big terrain park to cater to the widespread and growing enthusiasm for terrain features, largely among younger skiers and riders. Mount Snow has a vertical drop of 1,700 feet, 102 trails and 20 lifts.

Meanwhile, upstate just a bit, Okemo has a vertical drop of 2,200 feet, 119 trails and glades, and 19 lifts. Add in Okemo’s many terrain parks, and its delightful commitment to high-quality food service around the mountain, and you have one of the top family resorts in New England.

Venerable Stratton has a vertical drop of 2,003 feet, 92 trails and 14 lifts including a gondola. Stratton has always gone first class in its approach to mountain operations, reflected in the unveiling of the Starship Gondola some years ago with the help of American Olympian Pam Fletcher.

An alpine village, luxurious lodging, and downright good skiing and riding only bolster the resort’s image. Stratton hosts the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships each March, among the premier spectator events of winter in New England.

Nearby Bromley is among the oldest and most comfortable of New England resorts, with rolling terrain and cozy feel to all aspects of its operations.